The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-08-17
"Do YOU mean that very handsome

| Miss CamplOn naStlly CnauSeu tut Suu-
iect, to spare her nephew's feelings,
though Colin was inwardly delighted at
Betty's frankness-the more 80 because
he was undoubtedly good-looking.
Presently another appeal was maze 10
Betty by the fond aunt. =,
"Do YOU know, dear, Colin was placed
first in every examination that he went
in for when be was walking the hospi-
tals2"
.'Really9" said Betty, incredulonsly,
raising to Colin the frankest, most inno-
cent Of eyes. 81 thought clever people
became doctors sometimes.
For q moment Colin suspected that she
was trying to snub him, but Miss Cam
pion attributed Betty's rudeness to IA
tigue, and sent her off to bed very soon
after dinner
During the next few days Betty found
numberlcss opportunities OF sighting
Colin, but she was so gentle and attec-
tionate to her godmother that he re-
tanned his first opinion as to the sweet
ness of her character. He accepted her
Sights with 80 much good temper, and
received his aunt's praises with such gen
uine amusement, that Betty was at last
compelled to confess to herself that her
estimate of him had been altogether
wrong. She felt that she could not re-
spect him very much, for a man who
would marry any girl for expectancy
sake was not worthy of much honor; but
she would be more polite to MIN, as his
conduct would not in any way affect
her.
Colin was very grateful for this change
in her attitude toward him, and friend
ship sprang up between them which on
his side deerened into love. OF her feel
inos he could guess little. She was in
variably sweet and frank: but the fear of
losing her friendship by attempting to
gain her love for some time prevented
him from putting his fate into her hands.
On the last day of her visit, however, the
longing of his heart overcame this tear,
and he poured out all his soul to- her, not
noticing that her face was hardening at
his words.
"Tell me, Betty! Give me one word of
hope! Have l any chance2" he pleaded.
She turned toward him then, her face
white and stern, her mouth wearing
faint, bitter smile.
GLOW we'll you do it," she said, in
hard voice.
"Doi it? What do you mean2" he asked,
his voice changing too. Don't you un-
ders,andl love you, Betty!"
"Hush!" she interrupted, harshly.
"That is quite enough. No, l can give
YOU no hope; you have no chance. Never
sneak of this to me again !"-and, rising
from her garden-chair, she went into the
house and up to her own room:
This was what it all meant then! How
blind he had been! She was the sweet
girl" whom Miss Campion thought
Suitable wife for Colin. She had been
invited here in order that Colin might
see if she would "do." How grateful
she ought to feel!
She went down stairs presently, feel
inn GLAD that this was her last day at
Forde. She found Miss Campion sitting
alone in the drawing-room, looking a
little displeased.
81 am so cross, my dear" said the old
lady, drawing Betty to seat by her
side. "Colin has ridden over to the Lad
brokes' for dinner. 1t was very thought
less of him not to remember that this
was your last evening""
ut does not matter, godmother," said
Betty, with gentle coldneSs. 81 would
rather spend it alone with YOU"
Would you, dear? l thought you
and Colin had got or more comfortably
lately.
1T was only surface agreement" "
answered Betty, rather proudly. 1--WE
are too entirely opposed in character to he
really friends"
"You will hardly believe it, Betty, but
1 had planned match between you two.
thought you were so we'll suited for each
other, and it would have been so nice for
me to thelk of your living here together
after my death" 80,
"And you spoke to him about it,"
questioned Betty, without raising her
"Yes; on the evening before you came
7 told him what wished. But was to
meet the fate of all match-makers, you
see," she added, signing. "Colin said
that he would never marry unless ne was
in love-that he must reserve to himself
the right of choosing his wife. And, as
YOU say, dear, you and he were very far
from falling in love-"
"Did he say that2" asked Betty eagerly.
''Wouldn't he agree to what you wished!
Then have wronged him terribly; he is
ever 50 much nicer than thought"
"You thought2" questioned Miss
Campion slowly. 'Ah, remember now
Il told you that I was going to
speak to him, and you believed
that he would marry any one I sug-
gested How foolish and wrong I have
been! You might have liked him
if you had not been so prejudiced before
hand, and everything might have been
different
"Do not grieve, godmother," said
Betty, gently. eff we have not been
friends, it is quite my own fault. l had
no right to judge him before l knew
him."
But, in spite of her brave words, her
heart sank strangely. She knew that she
would have accepted Collins love had
she understood what he was offering her
for her belief in his unworthiness,
though it had destroyed her trust in him,
had not been strong enough to kill her
love. And now her life would be one
long sorrow for that mistake. Colin
wolld never speak to her of his love
again-had she not peremptorily for
hidden him9 He had gone away now to
avoid her, and after tomorrow she would